Resiliently expansive window closure



Oct. 7; 1952 A. s. JENKS RESILIENTLY EXPANSIVE WINDOW CLOSURE Filed April 27, 1950 2 SHEETS-SHEET l F G "4 INVEN TOR ALBERT S- JENKS ATTO R N EY FIG-3- Oct. 7, 1952 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 Filed April 27, 1950 ATTORN EY Patented Oct. 7, 1952 3 REiSIIJIENTIIY EXPANSIYE WINDOW CLO Albert S. J enks, Danbury, Conn. Application April .27, 1950., SerialNo. 158,431

7 Claims. (01. 160-40) This invention pertains to a window closure, and more particularly to the structure of a novel frame which may have retained therein a screen, a window, and a ventilator, or any combination thereof, with a substantially rigid framework having a flexible engaging portion contiguous with the rigid framework for resiliently engaging the opening in which the window closure is tobe inserted. i i

It is .an object of the present invention to provide a window closurehaving asubstantially rigid frame structure with a resilient member secured to said rigid frame for holdingsaid frame in position in the opening provided with means for maintaining a screen or window within the rigid frame.

.A further object of the inventionis to provide a window closure having a substantially rigid supporting structure with yieldable portions engaging said structure and adapted to provide resilient centering means for the supporting structure with theengaging portions of the opening provided for the window closure.

A further object of the invention is to provide a substantially rigid supporting structure for a screen with yieldable means adapted to secure said screen to the supporting structure, and also to have means carried by said rigid supporting structureto engage the portions provided for restricting the closure coverage area.

A further object of the invention is to provide a closure for a window which may have a screen, window pane, or ventilating means inserted therein, with a resilient strip or flap secured to a frame work and adapted. to engage the surrounding areas of a window: frame so thatv the closure may be inserted and removed within the window frame and have a substantially snug fit about the peripheral edge thereof regardless of the exact dimensional measurements of the window opening within certain limitations.

A further object of the invention is to provide a closure of the class set forth-which will have resilient means to cause the closure to fit and be retained within the opening of a window frame depending on the characteristics of the resilient means for a particular size window frame opening.

A further object of the invention is to provide an expansible window closure which may carry a screen and a pane of glass, and also to carry a separable ventilator having louvres or similar ventilating means provided therein.

Further and other objects of the invention may be and may become apparent from a perusal of the disclosure presented herewith.

It is to be understood that the particular views Fig. .1 is :a front view of a window frame having the window closure insertedrin the lower portion thereof.

Fig. .2 is a sectional View, broken, taken along lines 2--2 of Fig. 1, showing the window closure in operative position.

. .Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken along lines 3-4 ofFig. 8 showing a ventilating device inserted within the window closure.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken along lines fi -d of Fig. 1 showing an enlarged view of a portion of the window closure.

Fig. 51s a sectional view taken along lines 5-5 of Fig. 8 showing the handle for moving the closure into position.

6. is an exploded viewof the handle and the metallic locking means for holding the nan-=- dle in position. a i

Fig. 7 is a sectional view of the closure rigid and 'rfiexible portions showing a modification of the locking means between said portions.

Fig. 8 is afront view of the complete invention removed from the window frame opening.

Fig. 9 is'an enlargedview of one corner of the invention in operative position showing overlapping of the resilient flaps.

Figs. 10 and 11 are sectional views of the rigid frame and themodification, per se, shown in in the drawings are shown for purposes of illus- Figs. 5 and 7, respectively.

Referring to. the drawings there is shown a window frame 20 having the upper part of a window sash 2! in its proper position, with the window closure 2'2, which constitutes the invention, shownin its operative position held in the lower part thereof, and covering, from the exterior, the lower sash of the window.

The window closure 22 fits within the lower half of the. window frame opening. It is to be understood throughout the invention, that the expression window frame opening," may be either the opening of the entire frame 20, or the opening of the lower part of the frame as shown in Fig. l, or. it may be anysection or portion of an opening bounded by an outer window frame, regardless of its size or contour.

There are two forms of the invention, which are shown basically in cross section in Figs. 5

' and '7. For the purpose of the application, Fig. 5

will be considered as the basic invention and Fig. 7 will be considered as the modification. While two specific forms of the invention are shown, any other form of the invention may be ultimately utilized consistent with the doctrine of equivalents, and still be within the scope of the subioined claims.

The broad concept of the invention contemplates theuse of a rigid frame 23 which may be made of metal, such as aluminum, or may be made of plastic,,composition, or even wood or any form of wood combination or composition. In a preferred embodiment of the invention the rigidframe 23 will be assumed to be made of a light-weight metal suchas aluminumwhich has a locking strip 24 formed along an inner edge as set forth in Fig. 5 and may be in the form of a rectangular bar 26 as shown in Fig. 5, or may be in the form of an L-shaped lip 2'! as shown in Fig. 7. The purpose of the locking strip 24, whether it be a rectangular bar 26, an L-shaped lip 21, or any other suitable form, is to lock the rigid frame 23 in secured relation with the flexible frame 28. This flexible frame may be made of any flexible material such as rubber, or a composition material. Regardless of the trade name of the material used, it is to be understood that the flexible frame must be of a material that will be sufficiently resilient to be applied and secured to the rigid frame 23, thereby forming a complemental groove and protuberance respectively to fit the locking strip 24 and the U-shaped longitudinal groove 25 of the rigid frame 23.

Further, the flexible frame may have a channel 29 formed therein and adapted to receive a sheet of transparent material such as a sheet of glass 39. However, the channel 42 may receive any form of flexible or rigid transparent material provided it may be suitably held in said channel or connected to the flexible frame in any convenient manner. The flexible frame also has a flap 3|, which actually is a ribbon portion of the same material as the flexible frame which flap is an integral part of the flexible frame and terminates in a head 32. as shown, or have longitudinal ridges thereon, to provide a serrated edge in a cross sectional form thereof.

A handle 33 is mounted at one edge of a locking strip 34 and is loosely clipped by a bent portion 35. A locking clip 36 maybe made of metal and have an aperture or slot 31 formed therein with a slit 38 formed at one end of the locking clip 35.

As shown in Fig. 5 the'locking clip 9.6 will fit on one side of the flexible frame and through a slot formed in said flexible frame. The locking strip 34 will be inserted therethrough and will thereafter be clipped by the locking clip 36, and thereafter will hold the handle 33 in place. The purpose of the handle 33, one of which may be placed on either side of the screen or window closure as shown in Fig. 8, is for the purpose of facilitating insertion or removal of the window closure in regards to the window frame'20.

1n the normal construction of the window closure of the invention it is contemplated that the present window closure may be employed as a window screen or a combination window screen and storm window with or without a ventilator. In constructing the window closure, the four The bead may be round sides of the rigid frame 23 are measured for their particular desired dimensions, allowing for the cross sectional dimensions of the particular flexible frame to be employed. In the present instance the window closure would have four independent straight members constituting the rigid frame 23.

These rigid frame strips are cut in the proper length and have the proper angles at the ends thereof so that the four rigid frame strips will properly fit together. These rigid frame strips may be secured in any convenient manner such as by brazing, welding or soldering, depending on the particular material of the window closure rigid frame, or would be otherwise suitably cut and secured dependingon the particular material employed. Thereafter, a section of the flexible frame material would be cut at the proper angle on the ends thereof, which would ordinarily be at the same angle as the ends of the rigid frame strips.

The flexible frame would then be secured to the rigid frame having the screen 39 pressed into the U-shaped groove of the rigid frame by the tongue formed as a part of the flexible frame. The tongue 40 would secure the window screen in the groove since there is a space 4! provided by the tongue 40 and the U-shaped groove 25 for reception of the screen 39.

The rigid frame lip 27 which is the modification of the locking strip" 24 is employed as a means for positively securing the flexible frame to the rigid frame. After the screen is snugly secured to the rigid frame by the flexible frame tongue, the window closure, if only the screen portion is used, may be inserted in its operative position as shown in Fig. 1, by simply having the operator grip the handles from the inside of the window frame and draw the window closure within the opening of the Window frame.

The flaps of the window closure will yield when engaging the window frame and bend in a form which may be similar to the bent form as shown in Figs. 2, 3, 4, and 9.

Since the flaps are of resilient material there will be an automatic centering of the window closure within the window frame. The flexible window frame has the flap made of material of suflicient thickness to provide the desired rigidity to the flexible frame to provide a suitable pressure to retain the window closure in its normal operative position.

The bead 32 will grip the adjacent sides of the window frame and under influence of the pressure imparted by the flexible flap, will retain said window closure in its desired position. The free ends of the flaps will normally have a slight overlapping as shown in Fig. 9, and it will form,

due to the resiliency and inherent characteristics of the flap, a comparatively tight frictional seal between the overlapping ends of the flaps of the flexible frame.

The channel 29 for the glass 38 is normally formed in the flexible frame 28 on the four sides of the rigid frame 23. However, where it is desirous to use a ventilator there is a partition 33 shown in Fig. 3, which is H-shaped in cross section. The partition may fit between the two side portions as indicated in Fig. 8. The partition 43 has an upper groove which receives the glass Elf! and a lower groove which the upper edge of the telescopic ventilator fits into.

While the partition 43 is shown, by symbol, as being made of rubber, it is to be understood that the partition may have a rigid re-enforcing member formed therein, or may be a rigid member having a resilient covering or insert to form a water-tight connection between said partition and the engaging members such as the glass and the ventilator.

The partition may be secured to the rigid frame by frictionally engaging same, by mechanical means, or by any suitable method of securing same to the rigid frame. The ventilator 34 shown is merely representative of a conventional ventilator and in the present showing has a cen tral portion and. telescopic end portions it which end portions fit into the side grooves t2 normally formed for receiving the glass 38.

From the foregoing it will be seen that a window closure may have a flexible frame which is expansible and retractable depending on the particular dimensions of the opening of the window frame to which the device is applied.

pansible latitude of application to window frames of varying dimensions. The characteristics of the flexible material, including the quality and type of material and the physical dimensions of same will determine the latitude of the application of the present resiliently expansive window closure.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A window closure having a resilient outer frame adapted to substantially securely engage the opening of a window frame comprising, a frame formed of substantially rigid material having a U-shaped longitudinal groove formed therein, a frame of resilient material having longitudinal locking means adapted to securely engage said groove of the rigid frame and hold a screen therein, said resilient outer frame having means formed therein to receive a transparent substantially rigid member disposed in a plane substantially parallel with said screen, said resilient frame having ribbon flaps formed thereon and terminating in a bead on the outer peripheral edge and adapted to engage a window frame opening, locking means provided between said substantially rigid frame and said resilient outer frame for holding said frames in locked relation, and gripping means adapted to be secured to said resilient frame to facilitateinsertion and removal of said window closure.

2. A window closure having a resilient outer frame adapted to substantially securely engage the opening of a window frame comprising a frame formed of substantially rigid material having a U-shaped longitudinal groove formed therein, a frame of resilient material having longitudinal locking means adapted to securely engage said groove of the rigid frame and hold a screen therein, said resilient outer frame having means formed therein to receive a transparent substantially rigid member disposed in a plane substantially parallel with said screen, said resilient frame having ribbon flaps formed thereon and terminating in a bead on the outer peripheral edge and adapted to engage a window frame opening, locking means provided between said substantially rigid frame and said resilient outer frame for holding said frames in locked relation, and gripping means inserted through said outer frame to facilitate insertion and removal of said window closure.

3. A window closure having a resilient outer frame adapted to substantially securely engage the opening of a window frame comprising a frame formed of substantially rigid material having a U-shaped longitudinal groove formed therein, a frame of resilient material having lOIlgitudinal lockin means adapted to securely engage said groove of the rigid frame and hold a screen therein, said resilient outer frame having means formed therein to receive a transparent substantially rigid member disposed in a plane substantially parallel with said screen, said frame formed of substantially rigid material having a longitudinal groove formed therein, a frame of resilient material having longitudinal locking means adapted to securely engage said groove of the rigid frame and hold a screen therein, said resilient outer frame having means formed therein to receive a transparent substan tially rigid member disposed in a plane substantially parallel with said screen, said resilient frame having ribbon flaps formed thereon and terminating in a bead on the outer peripheral edge and adapted to engage a window frame opening, and locking means provided between said substantially rigid frame and said resilient outer frame for holding said frames in locked relation.

5. A window closure having a resilient outer frame adapted to substantially securely engage the opening of a window frame comprising a frame formed of substantially rigid material having a longitudinal groove formed therein, a frame of resilient material having longitudinal locking means adapted to securely engage said groove of the rigid frame and hold a screen therein, said resilient frame having ribbon flaps formed thereon and adapted to engage a window frame opening, and locking means provided between said substantially rigid frame and said resilient outer frame for holding said frames in locked relation.

6. A window closure having a resilient outer frame adapted to substantially securely engage the opening of a window frame comprising a frame formed of substantially rigid material having a longitudinal groove formed therein, a frame of resilient material having longitudinal locking means adapted to securely engage said groove on the rigid frame and hold a screen therein, said resilient outer frame having means formed therein to receive a transparent substantially rigid member disposed in a plane substantially parallel with said screen, said resilient frame having ribbon flaps formed thereon and terminating in a bead on the outer peripheral edge and adapted to engage a window frame opening, and gripping means adapted to be secured to said resilient frame to facilitate insertion and removal of said window closure.

'7. A window screen having a metallic frame adapted to have a screen material attached thereto, said frame having a resilient flap with an enlarged resilient frame portion and a resilient locking portion secured thereto at the outer peripheral edge thereof, said flap including a ribbon material having sufficient rigidity to substantially maintain said metallic frame within an opening adapted to receive said window screen, and means formed in the metallic frame to receive the locking portion and mechanically secure a screen material and the resilient frame to the metallic frame.

ALBERT S. JENKS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Fridoiph Feb. 7, 1950 

